{
  "abstract": "Background: Long COVID is frequently characterised by fatigue, cognitive dysfunction and post-exertional malaise (PEM), overlapping with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). International studies suggest that 13–58% of individuals with long COVID may meet ME/CFS criteria, but Austrian data are lacking. This study aimed to provide an exploratory approximation of ME/CFS within a selected Austrian long COVID online population.\n\nMethods: An exploratory cross-sectional online survey was conducted among individuals with self-reported long COVID recruited via an Austrian Facebook support group. ME/CFS status was assessed using items based on the Munich Berlin Symptom Questionnaire (MBSQ) and the DSQ-PEM, operationalised according to the Canadian Consensus Criteria (CCC). Sociodemographic data and functional impairment (Bell Disability Scale) were collected.\n\nResults: Of 361 completed questionnaires, 276 datasets (76.5%) were analysed. Participants were predominantly female (67.0%) with a median age of 45 years (IQR: 38–53); 61.5% were moderately to severely functionally impaired (median Bell score: 60, IQR: 40–70). PEM was reported by 90.0% at least occasionally, and 86.2% described symptom exacerbation after minimal exertion. Pathological fatigue was present in 71.7% at least half of the time. Within this selected sample, 248 participants (89.9%; 95% CI: 85.7–92.9) fulfilled all CCC criteria for ME/CFS. CCC-positive individuals showed lower functional capacity compared to CCC-negative participants (median Bell score: 50 vs. 70).\n\nConclusions: Findings from this self-selected online sample suggest a high burden of ME/CFS-compatible symptoms in long COVID. Due to selection bias, no population prevalence can be inferred. Further population-based studies are needed.\n\nKey messages: • A high proportion of individuals in a long COVID online support group fulfilled ME/CFS criteria, indicating a substantial symptom burden.\n\n• Long COVID populations may include a substantial subgroup with ME/CFS-like symptom patterns requiring targeted clinical recognition and care.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": "abstract",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "D Zach"
    },
    {
      "name": "T Waldhoer"
    },
    {
      "name": "R Felsinger"
    },
    {
      "name": "A Kapan"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6qpq4z4wvs4n3.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1511",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13698907/",
  "id": "6qpq4z4wvs4n3",
  "issns": [
    "1101-1262",
    "1464-360X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1511",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "6. Poster Displays"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "AcademicSubjects/MED00860"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "AcademicSubjects/SOC01210"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "AcademicSubjects/SOC02610"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "DM. Health services and systems research"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2728|Long-Term Effects of COVID-19"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223649173",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13698907/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13698907",
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": "Oxford University Press",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6qpq4z4wvs4n3.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:36Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13698907",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1511"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:21:45Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13698907",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13698907"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2728|Long-Term Effects of COVID-19",
      "subfield": "neurology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Estimation of ME/CFS among individuals with long COVID in an Austrian online support group",
  "title_text": "Estimation of ME/CFS among individuals with long COVID in an Austrian online support group",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:35:33Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6qpq4z4wvs4n3",
  "venue": "The European Journal of Public Health",
  "versions": []
}